The Thrive Program for​first responders“Protecting emotional safety is just asimportant as protecting physical safety”(SAMHSA, 1995)

First Responders are trained to respond to natural disasters, medical emergencies, fires and crimes, yet they are less prepared to manage the ongoing negative psychological sequelae of their profession. This is like sending someone to war without a flak jacket. Psychological preparedness for the First Responderis an integral, yet commonly overlooked, part of training that focuses on key areas of emotional wellness and behavioral health.

The psychological effects can be cumulative and occur on a continuum ranging from PTSD to less severe anxiety, poor health, family problems, depression burnout, and unfortunately, suicide. While not everyone meets critieria for PTSD, the cumulative nature of the profession takes a toll. Consider these statistics:

A first responder is twice as likely to die from a suicide than in the line of duty, or the life expectancy is 15 years less than the general population (Marks & Callahan, 2013).

First responders have a higher rate of early death, accidental injuries and early retirement based on medical issues when compared to the general population (Gunderson, Grill, Callahan, and Marks, 2014)

The THRIVE Program for First Responders outlines the core competencies that are critical to being psychologically prepared to manage the cumulative effects of stress, reduce occupational injury. and most importantly, enhance the emotional well-being and behavioral health of those who serve. The components of this program include the following: ​ Thinking - developing "good thinking" to manage depression and anxietyHealth - creating stellar physical health in order to be fit to liveRelease Physical Tension - incorporating self-regulation skills to manage hyperarousal and tension Invest in Personal Development - defining one's sense of growth and self-improvement Vision - cultivating a framework to enhance one's perspective, sense of self, and a solid careerEngage in Social Support - connecting with others to reduce social isolation

TheTHRIVE Programfor First Responders can be adjusted to meet the needs of each individual agency, department, or hospital.